CVE-2024-37919 in Timeline Module for Beaver Builder Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/20/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Pratik Chaskar Timeline Module for Beaver Builder allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Timeline Module for Beaver Builder: from n/a through 1.1.3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the Timeline Module for Beaver Builder, a popular WordPress page builder extension. The weakness occurs during the web page generation process where user input is not properly sanitized or escaped before being rendered in HTML output. This allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers when they view affected pages. The vulnerability specifically affects versions from n/a through 1.1.3, indicating a potential gap in the software's input validation mechanisms that has persisted across multiple releases. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that malicious payloads are permanently saved on the server and executed whenever affected pages are accessed, making it particularly dangerous for content management systems where multiple users interact with shared content.
The technical implementation of this flaw demonstrates a failure in proper input sanitization practices that aligns with CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. This weakness occurs when applications fail to properly escape or encode user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages. The vulnerability enables attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code through the timeline module's input fields, which are then stored in the database and executed whenever the timeline content is rendered. This stored XSS variant is particularly concerning because it can persist for extended periods and affect multiple users without requiring them to perform any additional actions beyond viewing the compromised content. The attack vector typically involves an authenticated user with sufficient privileges to modify timeline content, though in some cases even unauthenticated attackers may exploit this if the module allows public input submission.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks such as session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain unauthorized access to user sessions, steal sensitive information, or manipulate content displayed to other users. The stored nature of the XSS means that the attack can be maintained over time without requiring repeated exploitation attempts, making it a persistent threat to website security. This vulnerability also affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire website, as it allows unauthorized modification of content that users trust to be authentic. The impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where the timeline module might be used to display sensitive company information or customer data, potentially leading to data breaches or reputational damage.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user inputs through proper escaping techniques before rendering them in HTML contexts, which directly addresses the CWE-79 weakness. Developers should implement context-aware encoding, ensuring that data is properly escaped based on the specific output context where it will be rendered. Additionally, the timeline module should enforce strict input validation to prevent the injection of potentially malicious content, including filtering out or rejecting known dangerous patterns. Security patches should be applied immediately to update the affected versions, and administrators should implement proper access controls to limit who can modify timeline content. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other parts of the application. The remediation efforts should also include monitoring for any unauthorized modifications to timeline content and implementing proper logging mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies as additional protective layers to mitigate the risk of successful XSS exploitation.